Learn Computer Skills Lessons
The icons on the desktop can also have their appearance and size changed we have already used the display properties to alter the size of these. Now we will look at placing new ones on the desktop and creating shortcut icons. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson To change the look of…
Read MoreIn common with installation, uninstalling software should always be done in the correct manner to minimise the risk of corrupting the operating system. The following lesson describes two methods of correctly uninstalling software. 1. using the software’s own uninstaller 2. using the operating systems uninstaller. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson Click…
Read MoreWhen files are created on the hard disk they are placed one after another. If a file is reopened and worked on, the new part has to be placed in the next available free space, so the file becomes fragmented. This fragmentation causes the operating system to eventually slow down as it has to reassemble…
Read MoreDisk cleanup can be used to clear unused files on the hard drive and offers more options than just emptying the recycle bin and deleting temporary internet files. Files such as temp, office setup and old restore points can be removed in one operation; this offers more flexibility for file removal. Use the buttons below…
Read MoreFavourites or bookmarks is a list of internet sites that have been visited and kept for future reference. As this list grows it can be come untidy and difficult to navigate. The following section will describe how to delete items and place favourites in folders for easier navigation. Use the buttons below to navigate through…
Read MoreFiles are organized on your computer in folders. If it helps, think of your computer as a filing cabinet. There may be drawers that group information or paperwork, e.g. one drawer for household items, another for personal items and so on. Inside the drawers there are dividers for sub groups such as gas, electricity, insurance…
Read MoreWhen a file is deleted from the hard drive it is placed by default in the recycle bin, only when the recycle bin is emptied is the file actually removed from the hard drive and the disk space can be used again. Whilst in the recycle bin deleted items can still be recovered, in case…
Read MoreScandisk is used to check the integrity of the file system, also to scan the physical hard disk for bad sectors. These bad sectors can lead to data loss or corruption and are one of the first signs of a failing hard disk. When bad sectors are encountered scandisk will attempt to repair these sectors…
Read MoreTemporary Internet Files: for every website that is visited whilst browsing the internet, files and pictures are stored on your computer. They are stored as cached copies so the website can be displayed quicker if revisited. These files can occupy up to 10% of the total hard drive space. Deleting these files on a regular…
Read MoreA virus scanner is possibly the most important piece of software that is installed on your computer. Protection from viruses is only as good as the last update. Out of date virus protection may as well not be on the computer; sometimes up to 100 new virus a month are released into the wild (term…
Read MoreThe interior of a computer looks very complicated at first glance. When the case is removed there is a mass of bits, cables and components that can intimidate the uninitiated. This lesson will seek to dispense some of the mist that may surround the hardware of a computer. Use the buttons below to navigate through…
Read MoreOperating Systems The most important piece of software on any computer is the operating system. The operating system gives the framework upon which all other services and applications run. The majority of home users use a Windows based machine. Most of today’s applications and games are designed to run solely on Microsoft systems. Microsoft Windows…
Read MoreThe Windows desktop provides a convenient location for storing files and folders. The desktop can contain shortcuts to applications and documents that you access frequently. This lesson is based on Windows XP, but if you understand this you will understand how the desktop works in all the other versions of Windows too! Use the buttons…
Read MoreOnce a partition/volume has been created, it then needs to be formatted with a File System. A File System organises and allows for the retrieval of the data stored on the disk. This mechanism is similar to how office file systems operate. Files are stored in folders and then indexed so that they can be…
Read MoreThe Start Menu has been a standard feature in Microsoft Windows ever since Windows 95. It has changed and evolved over the years but the essential idea has remained the same: it is the central place where you can find all of the programs installed on your computer. Use the buttons below to navigate through…
Read MoreIn this lesson we look at connecting to a standard wireless network in Windows. To access the internet you must be connected to a network. Often nowadays these networks are wireless, also sometimes called WiFi. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson When you connect to a wireless network you are connected to…
Read MoreIn order to use a Windows computer you must log on with your user account. Here we see how to create a new account. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson We might want to have multiple accounts on our computer so that family members can share the same computer and yet have…
Read MoreIt is important to backup your data regularly so you do not lose it. In this lesson we look at the Backup & Restore tool included with Windows. This tool is very powerful but we will look at the most basic features. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson To begin a backup…
Read MoreMany people like to customise the way their computer desktop appears, to make it less cluttered. In this lesson we’ll see some common techniques to change the desktop. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson First, right click on the desktop. On the menu you can see the “Personalize” option. This is how…
Read MoreWindows operating system is very powerful, but it does not have the ability to do everything we might want to do with our computers. We can add new programs to our computer in order to increase our capabilities. In this lesson we will install some example new software. Use the buttons below to navigate through…
Read MoreIn this lesson we will learn the basics of what is a computer network. In the early days of personal computing computers were usually disconnected from one another. They would be used for document writing and calculations, and special equipment was required to connect them together. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson…
Read MoreIn this lesson we will see how to create an email account using an online service. E-mail is a standard way of sending messages to a person or business over the internet. In order to send and receive email we need an email account. Use the buttons below to navigate through the lesson Many online…
Read MoreIn this lesson we will look at another common computer maintenance task – removing temporary files using some free software. When we use our computers often old temporary files are left lying around by programs. Over time they can accumulate and cause slowdown or low memory space. It is good to clean them up every…
Read MoreIn this lesson we will have a brief introduction to using Remote Desktop – a component of Windows that allows us to control another computer remotely. Sometimes we need to operate a computer remotely. For example perhaps we are maintaining a website, and the data for that website is stored on a remote computer in…
Read MoreIn this lesson we will look at the principle of using multiple hard drives for backup or redundancy purposes. In later lessons we look at specific ways of achieving this. As we know, the hard drive is where permanent information and data is stored in our computer. Use the buttons below to navigate through the…
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